Belt-fastener



(No Model.)

A. J. PRESTON.

' BELT FASTENER. No. 366,127. Patented July 5, 1887.

F1 gs N, PETERS. PhntmLilhngnphnr. Washington. D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIGEO ALMON J. PRESTON, OF EAST GUILFORD, NEW YORK.

BELT-HFASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,127, dated July 5, 1887.

Application filed March 15, 1887. Serial No. 230,990.

(No model.)

.7." 0 (tZZ whom it 71mg concern:

Be it known that I, ALMON J. PRESTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Guilford, in the county of Ohenango and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference mark ed thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of the meeting ends of a belt, showing my improved fastener connecting them together; Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section thereof, and Fig. 3 a detail viewin perspective ofthe serrated teeth.

The present invention has relation to that class of belt-fasteners in which is employed a slotted frame to receive the ends of the belt, and a wedge-shaped key for holding the ends of the belt to the frame.

It is the object of the invention to improve the construction of these wedge-shaped keys, whereby their holding power will be greatly increased, and less liable to slip orwork loose between the ends of the belt. To this end I provide the key upon its side with longitudinal Vshaped ribs, whereby they will more effectually embed themselves in the leather transversely to the length of the belt, and thus the holding power will be at right angles to the strain thereon, which will enable the wedge to more effectually act as a holding power.

In the accompanying drawings, A B rep resent the two meeting ends of a machine-belt, the extremities thereof being cut away so as to form tongues a, of somewhat less width than the width of the belt, said tongues passing through 'a metal loop, 0. This loop is formed with a bearing-flange, 1), extending entirely around it, and the loop is formed upon its inner side with rounding shoulders 0, so that an abrupt corner will not be presented to the surface of the leather and endanger its being out. The loop 0 at its top is made flaring, or increases in width at this point, so as to allow room for the leather of the tongues a being pressed outward when the key D is inserted between said tongues. This wedge is serrated upon its sides, and is wedge shape in cross-section, the serrations or ribs d extend ing longitudinally of the wedge, so that the greater the strain upon the tongue the tighter they will be pressed against the interior sides of the loop 0. The ribs d upon the sides of the wedge D are V-shaped, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, so that they will more firmly embed themselves in theleathcr or other material of which the belt is composed.

I am aware that it is old to use a wedge and a slotted frame for the purpose of holding the ends of a belt; and I am also aware that a beltfastenenhas been composed of three piecestwo L-shaped corrugated pieces placed one each side of the ends of the belt, with a ring or loop embracing said pieces-and do not claim such constructions. In the latter case the two ends of the belt are in contact with each other, and hence are very liable to slip.

I dispense with pins, and also with making holes in the belt, which necessarily weaken it, and employ only two pieces, a slotted frame, in the slot of which the two ends of the belt are received, and a wedge-shaped key pro vided with longitudinal ribs, which key is substantially the same length as the slot in the frame, and is designed to enter the same between the ends of the belt, as shown in the drawings, binding the ends for the whole length of the same, and at right angles to the strain thereon. In this lies the gist of myinvention.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the two ends of a belt, of the frame 0, provided with a slotto receive said ends, and a wedge-shaped key, D, provided with longitudinal ribs or'serrations, entering said slot between the said ends of the belt and holding the same in place, all arranged substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ALMON J. PRESTON.

Witnesses: V

S. N; SKINNER, J. B. PALMER. 

